Wudu & Salah
Step-by-step guidesWudu (ablution)Wudu is required before prayer. Follow the steps in order, washing the right side before the left.
Salah (prayer)One rakʿah of prayer, step by step. Repeat for each rakʿah; sit for tashahhud after every second rakʿah and at the end.
Rakʿahs of the five prayers
| Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | — |
| Dhuhr | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Asr | — | 4 | — |
| Maghrib | — | 3 | 2 |
| Isha | — | 4 | 2 |
Witr after Isha: Hanafi — 3 rakʿahs, wajib; Shafiʿi, Maliki, Hanbali — sunnah muʾakkadah, at least 1 rakʿah.
Source: Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 414 · Sahih Muslim 728 · Sahih al-Bukhari 1182Prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw)
If you forget part of the prayer (such as the first tashahhud) or are unsure how many rakʿahs you prayed, make two extra prostrations near the end. Hanafi: after one taslim to the right, then tashahhud again and taslim. Shafiʿi: before the taslim. Maliki: before taslim for something missed, after taslim for something added. Hanbali: mostly before taslim, with some cases after.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1224 · Sahih Muslim 570Prepared from authentic sources; pending scholar review.